BREAKING: Bandits Storm Kwara Cassava Farm, Abduct Two Brothers Amid Sporadic Gunfire

The wave of insecurity in Kwara State has escalated further with the abduction of two brothers by bandits while working on their cassava farm in Edu Local Government Area.

The attack occurred on Wednesday at Bokungi Zambufu community under the Lafiagi Emirate. According to NupekoTV, eyewitnesses said the assailants stormed the farmland and opened fire “sporadically,” forcing villagers to flee.

The two brothers were unable to escape and were taken away by the gunmen.

One of the victims has been identified as Mohammed Mohammed, a prominent community figure and former President of the National Association of Nupe Students (NANUS).

The report noted that the incident has heightened fears among farmers in Kwara North, many of whom already face severe threats from recurring kidnappings.

Residents have accused authorities of failing to address the rising wave of attacks, warning that agricultural activities in the area are under grave threat.

As of the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of the victims remain unknown, and security agencies have yet to issue an official statement on the abduction.

In a recent incident, armed bandits on Monday abducted two sons of a community youth leader in Essanti village, Patigi Local Government Area of the state.

The victims were reportedly seized around 1:30 p.m. while returning from their farm.

Residents told NupekoTV that the abductors revealed to the victims that they were heading to Essanti after learning that villagers had begun fleeing the community out of fear of repeated night attacks.

A source who later communicated with the kidnappers disclosed that the attackers said abducting the youth leader’s sons would reduce the need for further night invasions, as the move was meant to intimidate residents and weaken the community’s resolve.

The victims, after confirming to their captors that they were from Essanti, were immediately taken hostage.

On Sunday night, bandits launched a violent raid on Marri Village in the Patigi Local Government Area of the state, leaving one person dead and another injured.

According to NupekoTV, the attack, which took place amid heavy rainfall between 9:00 pm and 11:00 pm, saw the assailants storm the community and make away with several motorcycles.

Earlier on Sunday, SaharaReporters reported an attack in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

The Kwara State Police Command later confirmed that 12 vigilante members, including the Baale (Community leader) of Ogbayo, were killed during the armed attack on Sunday morning.

In a statement on Sunday, the command said the incident occurred at about 7:00 a.m. when gunmen invaded the Ogbayo area of Oke-Ode and opened fire indiscriminately.

“At about 7:00am today, armed men invaded the Ogbayo area of Oke-Ode, shooting sporadically. A combined team of police operatives and members of the National Forest Security Service responded swiftly to the scene, where they discovered 12 lifeless bodies of vigilante members, including the Baale of Ogbayo,” the statement read.

It added that the victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds, while four others who were injured were taken to the hospital for treatment.

The command assured that efforts were underway, in collaboration with the military and the National Forest Security Service, to track down those responsible.